Types of Yoga Certifications

Yoga reached the West in the 19th century and became widely practiced, adapted, and sometimes regulated. Western practitioners praised yoga for health benefits, and some brought ancient teachings from India, leading to yoga teacher training programs. As more curricula entered the market, quality control became necessary, and Yoga Alliance emerged as a governing body for credible yoga teacher training and continuing education. Continuing education can include additional training beyond initial 200 and 300 hours. Yoga Alliance established guidelines to standardize what qualifies as a Registered Yoga Teacher and a Registered Yoga School. Certification typically begins with a 200-hour training, covering fundamentals, history, and group class leadership, along with philosophy, chakras and subtle body, meditation and breathwork, and anatomy. After 200 hours, training can continue to 300 hours or focus on specific yoga genres such as Yin, Restorative, Prenatal, and Bhakti.

"Yoga Alliance soon became a governing body for what constitutes a credible yoga teacher training and a continuing education course. Continuing education (CEUs) could be considered any additional training on top of the initial 200 and 300 hours. Yoga Alliance put some guidelines in place to standardize what was considered a Registered Yoga Teacher and Registered Yoga School."

"Enrolling in a 200 hour yoga teacher training gives you the fundamentals necessary to understand the practice, both its history and current standings, as well as all the information you'd need to lead a group fitness class. However, you'll learn so much more than just the physical practice. While yoga asana is widely covered in a 200 hour ytt, there are also topics like Philosophy, The Chakras & Subtle Body, Meditation & Breathwork, as well as pretty in-depth Anatomy knowledge to aid in the physical portion."

"Once you've obtained a 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training Certification, you can continue on to 300 hours and/or decide to study a specific genre of yoga such as: Yin, Restorative, Prenatal, Bhakti, and more."

Read at YogaRenew